by ANDREW DUFFY / TIMES COLONIST

From left, Tom Sampson of the Tsartlip Nation speaks at a news conference with Tsartlip Chief Don Tom, Pauquachin Chief Rebecca David and Tsawout Chief Harvey Underwood, who vowed to fight an LNG plan by the neighbouring Malahat First Nation. Photograph By DARREN STONE

The Saanich Peninsula First Nations are promising a battle on the land, the sea and in the courtroom if Steelhead LNG plans to go ahead with a liquefied natural gas plant on the former Bamberton development lands.

Standing on Tsartlip First Nation land looking across Saanich Inlet at the site of the former cement factory where Steelhead envisions its project, the chiefs of the Saanich Peninsula nations — Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum and Pauquachin, known collectively as WSANEC — made it clear they are united in opposition.

“We wanted to make a strong impact statement to make sure our statement is heard ... we are making it well known that we oppose LNG in our territory,” said Chief Rebecca David of the Pauquachin First Nation. “The decisions and choices we make today affect the next seven generations. We are trying to protect the water and the lands of our future children.”

David said opposition to the project seems to have fallen on deaf ears at the Steelhead offices.

Jeremy Loveday and Ben Isitt, pictured during the municipal election campaign in October, are calling for more ethical investing by the City of Victoria. Photograph By BRUCE STOTESBURY, Times Colonist

Victoria councillors Jeremy Loveday and Ben Isitt hope to encourage more ethical investments of city dollars.

The two, in co-operation with the University of Victoria Student Society, are hosting a town-hall meeting tonight to explore alternatives to the current situation, in which municipal funds are invested in pooled portfolios largely out of the city’s control.

Right now, the city’s capital reserves of about $120 million and short-term assets are invested in the portfolios, administered by the Municipal Finance Authority through fund manager Philips, Hager & North Ltd., along with funds from other municipal governments. “So the city has no control, beyond that the funds go to the MFA,” Isitt said. “I guess in a delegated way we do have representation on the MFA through the [Capital] Regional District.”

Isitt said a concern he has, for example, is that Philips, Hager & North has taken the position that investment in the oilsands is consistent with the principles of socially responsible investing.

“Many people have a different view,” Isitt said. The purpose of the town hall, he said, is to explore how to ensure city funds are being used “as a force for good rather than for harm” in terms of environmental and social issues.

“We do know that [the MFA] pooled fund includes investments in Enbridge and Trans Mountain Pipeline and other oil and gas industries, which many members of the public think aren’t the best destination for public dollars,” he said. “We believe it’s important to invest the public’s money in enterprises that advance, rather than undermine, social justice and the environment.”

He said he’d like to see amendments by provincial legislature to allow local governments to invest responsibly. “The city’s had an investment policy on its books for about a decade that includes a very clear commitment to socially responsible investing where possible,” he said. “Unfortunately it’s the ‘where possible’ that’s the legislative straitjacket that we’re in.’ ”

Speakers at the event include Kelsey Mech, chair of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, Nathalie Chambers of the Farmland Protection Coalition, and peace activist and former Green party leader Joan Russow.

The event is planned for 7 p.m. tonight at the Downtown Community Centre, 955 Pandora.

POVERTY & UNEMPLOYMENT ARE THE REAL THREATS!

Join us for a March and Rally with speakers

May 1st is set aside in most countries around the world as International Labour Day. The Victoria May Day Committee together with CUPE Locals, International Solidarity groups, IWW and the Work Less Party of BC continues to work towards a meaningful marking of this occasion and its importance to the international working class.

May Day celebrates the social and economic achievements of the international labour movement and promotes social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights.

John Baird, who resigned last month as Minister of Foreign Affairs, has landed a job as an advisor with Barrick Gold, a corporation that received subsidies for its mining operations from the government during the time Baird was in the Cabinet.

The announcement shortly after Minister Baird became the minister that Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was ‘partnering’ with Barrick Gold in Peru, where the mining company was facing growing protests from the locals, while slashing funds long standing foreign aid groups caused astir three years ago.

A local kid is making it his priority to ensure the citizens of Victoria have the right to a healthy environment.

Rupert Yakelashek, 10, went to David Suzuki’s Blue Dot Tour in Victoria in November, where he was inspired to bring about environmental change in Victoria.

“[Suzuki] said that Canada had fallen behind in the environmental race and that many countries have environmental rights, but not Canada,” said Yakelashek.

During the municipal election, Yakelashek brought letters to each of the candidates in Victoria asking them to support a declaration for the right to a healthy environment.

He made a lasting impression on Coun. Jeremy Loveday in particular.

“He really stuck with me as one of the people that stood out from my time campaigning,” said Loveday. “I think it’s a great step for the city to make a strong statement in favour of the environment and for future generations.”

The declaration states multiple environmental rights of humans, such as the right to breathe clean air, the right to drink clean water, the right to consume safe food and the right to participate in decision-making that will affect the environment.

The declaration also states that the City of Victoria should take cost-effective measures to prevent the degradation of the environment and protect the health of its citizens.

Yakelashek is going to City Hall on Thursday night (Dec. 18) to bring his message directly to council and relay to it and the public why it is an important initiative to support. There will be a rallyimmediately prior to the meeting at 6:45 p.m. at the Pandora Avenue entrance to city hall.

While it is a declaration and not a bylaw, Loveday said supporting it at the municipal level is the first step.

“The plan is to have municipalities recognize the right to a healthy environment in declarative statements, and then from there get provinces to make the same statements,” said Loveday.

Eventually the rights could get passed at the constitutional level. More than 100 other countries in the world already have the right to a healthy environment in their constitutions.

“Victoria would be a leader in it as we’d be the first city on Vancouver Island and the sixth city across Canada to sign on,” said Loveday, adding the declaration lines up with the city’s official community plan and could be used as a reference for future projects.

“I think it’s important for Victoria because we’re the capital of British Columbia,” said Yakelashek. “Victoria is considered the leader of British Columbia and is a great influence.”

Supporting this declaration is a strong statement for the environment moving forward, said Loveday.